Tree Work

The recent plunge in temperature has resulted in frozen ground that is ideal for tree work, so we're taking a break from drainage and picking up where we left off last winter.  Removing trees can be a contentious issue, but recent trends show that selective removals have significant results when it comes to improving turf health and playability.  The majority of our work is removing underbrush and undesirable trees such as locust and sumac, but we sometimes have to remove oak, maple, cherry or elm trees if they're too close to greens, tees or fairways.  These species have shallow root systems that will out-compete turfgrass for water and nutrients, all while blocking sunlight and airflow.

Trees are also removed for safety reasons, and we've been proactively removing trees that are in decline.  Visible damage to the trunk, especially around the base of the tree, is an indicator of a potential hazard.  Also, dead branches at the very top of a tree indicate a problem.

Click here for a recent article from the USGA about trees and their effect on turfgrass.

Shaded putting green turf will always be lesser quality
compared to turf that receives full sun.

Rotting heartwood makes trees weaker and more likely to come down in storms.

Thin turf under a dense tree canopy.

This tree only had minor indicators of poor health, but was clearly in decline.

Maintenance staff removing brush and undesirable trees near Grove 9 green.

Course Update

The recent stretch of mild weather has allowed us to continue the drainage projects on the Orchard course.  We're currently working in #5 fairway and have installed 130 feet of pipe thus far, with another 30 feet to finish installing before Christmas.  That brings the total drainage installed to 210 feet.  Unlike the drain line on #6, the two sites on #5 did not have existing drainage and it makes sense why we experienced problems with the turf in those low areas every year.  Since there wasn't sub-surface drainage to remove the excess water, the soil remained water-logged and the turf died due to a lack of oxygen.  By using a combination of sand over gravel in the drain lines, we ensure that water can easily drain from the surface which results in better playing conditions and healthy turf!

Ready to start digging on 5 Orchard fwy

 

Bryan & Justin digging around existing basin to connect new drainage

Installing new 4" pipe & gravel

Installing 12" basin to accommodate future drain lines

Drain line ready for sod near 5 approach

Gray clay only 2" below the fairway surface allows little to no water drainage

Winter Work

Just about every year, turf professionals everywhere get the same question: “What do you do in the winter?” Understandably, golfers sometimes assume that winter is “kick back time” for golf course superintendents. After all, not much golf is being played in the northern half of the country. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Winter in the northern half of the country usually brings a change of schedule – and some relief – from the day-to-day grind of the golf season, but there still is much work to be done. Often, winter  is “project time,” allowing superintendents to focus more resources on accomplishing bigger, more disruptive projects at a time when grass doesn’t require mowing and golfers won’t be bothered. Tree work, drainage work, and a myriad of other projects all can be done in the late fall and winter – provided the weather cooperates. When the weather doesn’t cooperate, there's snow to plow, and parking lots and sidewalks to treat. Just as it does in the summer, the weather presents its own set of challenges during winter and outside work on the course can be a battle against the elements. Additionally, course accessories like ball washers, tee markers, and benches need to be cleaned and painted, future projects planned, equipment maintained, etc.

In addition to on-course projects, several opportunities for continuing education take place during winter. The turfgrass management profession is dynamic and the development of new products, techniques and research constantly occurs. Therefore, it's important to continually learn about new advancements within the industry. Turfgrass research projects are constantly underway at universities across the nation. The information developed from that research is published and presented at turf conferences and meetings, so attendance is critical. There are many educational opportunities during the year, but the winter turf conferences are among the most important for turf professionals. Furthermore, educational conferences provide time to obtain certification credits and allow superintendents to network.

Hopefully you get the idea; a superintendent’s work is never done. So, while the occasional winter vacation may take place, winter is definitely not “kick back time” for golf course superintendents. Winter means changing schedules and shifting priorities while always striving to improve professionally so the job can be done more effectively.

Click here to find out more about winter maintenance activities

Justin giving the breakroom a much-needed cleaning

Randy prepping a tee mower reel for sharpening

Winter is the ideal time to perform extensive equipment maintenance & repairs

Snow Mold

This week we made a winter fungicide application to greens, tees and fairways to protect the turf from snow mold.  The chemicals used specifically target the disease and are formulated to last up to four months given moderate weather variations.  The ideal application period is when the turf has stopped producing new leaf tissue and the ground is not frozen.  Frozen ground limits the plant's ability to absorb the fungicide which results in reduced disease control.  The weather forecast also moved our timeline up due to the sub-freezing temps and snow/rain events expected over the next 10 days.  In total, we sprayed 53 acres of turf with a chemical cost of $15,000.

There are two types of snow mold that negatively affect turfgrass, pink and gray.  Gray snow mold is associated with long periods of snow cover and pink snow mold can occur with or without snow.  Gray snow mold is much more destructive and can kill large areas of turf, while pink snow mold typically attacks leaf tissue and does not harm the growing point (crown) of the plant.  In southwestern PA we use a fungicide that targets both pink and gray snow mold since we don't know what the weather will be like during the winter.

Pink snow mold infection on a fairway.  Notice the pinkish hue around
the outside of the infected patches.

Course Update

As expected, November has been a busy month for the maintenance staff.  We completed most of our to-do list even with the 6.1" of rain.  The latter half of the month saw mild weather that allowed for some bonus golf, but it also kept the turf growing which needed to be mowed.  Fungicide applications for snow mold have been postponed due to the mild weather and continued mowing, but will need to be applied in the next couple of weeks.  Daily leaf cleanup has also been a top priority, which includes blowing, mulching, and more blowing.  We try to have all playing surfaces clear for play every morning, but many times a gust of wind comes along scattering leaves everywhere and it appears nothing was ever done.  Besides the Oak trees, most of the leaves are down and we hope to be done with leaf cleanup soon.

In addition to our regular maintenance, the management team felt it was important to address some of the areas impacted by poor drainage this summer.  Today we started that process at the beginning of Orchard 6 fairway.  We started by digging some test holes to see if there was drainage pipe in the ground and what condition it was in.  Then we rented a machine to speed up the excavation process and proceeded to remove the old, non-functioning pipe along with the clay and muck that was not allowing the water to drain from the surface.  Once the trench was dug a new layer of gravel was spread along the bottom and new, free-flowing pipe was laid on top.  More gravel was then used to cover and stabilize the pipe.  The final steps are to fill the trench with sand and repair the area with sod.  It took a little while to get going this morning, but the staff was able to install the 50 feet of new pipe and cover everything with gravel.  The plan is to keep working on drainage projects as long as the weather allows this year and we'll continue to work on the Orchard course.

All the photos below were taken today on Orchard 6 fairway.

Low area resulting in turf loss
from non-functioning drainage

50 feet of old drainage pipe removed from low area

Excavating trench

The two visible drainage pipes were in good shape
and the new pipe was connected to them

Trench filled with gravel and ready for sand

Lower end of trench connected to a catch-basin in the rough

Frost Update

Thought it would be a good idea to revisit a post about frost from early October. There have been numerous heavy frosts this fall along with some damage from people walking on frozen turf. When out for your morning walks please stay on the cart paths and sidewalks. This also applies to your pets, as dogs can damage frozen turf the same way humans do.

The picture below of Orchard 1 was recently taken one afternoon after a heavy frost. You can clearly see the black footprints in the rough and fairway which indicate dying turf.

Frost is common this time of year and can even occur when the air temperature is above freezing.  Frost will usually be evident at sunrise, as the air at ground level is warmed it becomes lighter and rises.  Colder, denser air will take the place of the warm air and can be 5-10 degrees cooler, thus creating frozen turf.  Frost usually "burns off" quickly in direct sunlight, but certain areas of the course are heavily shaded and take longer to thaw.  The maintenance staff monitors specific areas throughout the course on cool mornings to determine whether frost is present, and the decision to allow play is based on when those areas will be frost-free.  An easy way to tell if frost is present is by running your hand across the grass.  If the dew wipes away it's safe to walk on the turf.


Click here to watch a short video about frost from the USGA.

Construction Update

The contractor finished up a few odds and ends last week and there are a couple areas needing sod that the maintenance staff will complete as the weather allows.  Overall, the project was a tremendous success and was able to address many more areas throughout the courses than originally planned.  Thank you for your patience and understanding during the project.  The finished product is receiving rave reviews and everyone is understandably excited to try out the new tees next season.

Here's a brief summary of the project:

• Renovated and enlarged 12 tees on 5 holes
• Increased the usable teeing surface by 11,000 square feet (.25 acres)
• Repaired 2 rock walls with a combined length of 300 feet
• Used 300 tons of sand mix for the tees
• Used 45 tons of gravel and 23 tons of screened topsoil for the rock walls
• Installed 36,000 square feet of bentgrass sod and 38,500 square feet of bluegrass sod

Maintenance staff installing bluegrass sod around Grove 3 tees

Lakes 2 rock wall

Lakes 2 rock wall with new bluegrass sod.  A bentgrass collar
will be installed between the green and the bluegrass sod

Lakes 2 rock wall.  There is 3 times more area along the top of the wall
to play from and balls won't be lost in the sinkholes between the rocks

Course Update

Falling leaves, cooler temps and shorter days remind us that winter is not too far away.  With that in mind, November is always a busy month as our focus shifts from routine maintenance to preparing the course for winter.  Even though last winter was rather mild and the forecasts for this winter vary from one extreme to another depending on the source, we like to say "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

Here's a list of items that need to be done in November:

1. Blowout/winterize the irrigation systems and course restrooms
2. Finish aerifying tees
3. Blow/mulch leaves
4. Mow everything one last time
5. Spray a fungicide on greens, tees and fairways that protects the turf against snow mold
6. Bring in all course and driving range accessories (tee markers will be left out this year)
7. Finish sod projects
8. Mow outer rough

There are always a few other surprises this time of year, and it's critical that we get through our to-do list prior to the ground freezing.  Who knows, you may still be playing golf in December like last year.

Construction Update

The contractor recently finished the two tees on Grove #3 and has been working on the rock wall at Lakes #2 green.  The tees were sodded last week and bluegrass sod is coming next week to finish the surrounds.  The recent wet weather hasn't been ideal for working on Lakes #2, but the contractor anticipates being finished out there this week.  Similar to the wall on Lakes #6, the soil had settled and was eroding between the rocks, causing the rocks to be unstable and sink holes to form.  The contractor excavated the loose soil behind the wall, then installed filter fabric and washed gravel to stabilize the section.  The final step was to build up the settled area between the green and the wall with topsoil to create a runoff area for balls to stop on.  Once the soil dries out enough the maintenance staff will re-establish the collar around the green and the area will be sodded with bluegrass and maintained at rough height similar to Lakes #6.

Shaping Grove 3 tees

Maintenance staff installing bentgrass sod on Grove 3 tees

Settling and sink holes behind Lakes 2 green rock wall

Filter fabric, stone and topsoil installation along Lakes 2 green rock wall

Greens Aerification Update

The DryJect contractor was here on Monday & Tuesday and another successful aerification is behind us.  There was a slight frost delay Tuesday morning, but other than that the weather was perfect.  The maintenance staff did an incredible job (as they always do) keeping the machines moving and filled with sand.  Speaking of sand, approximately 65 tons (130,000 pounds!) was injected into the rootzone.  Keep in mind that all that sand is moved from our utility vehicles to the DryJect machines by the staff using 5-gallon buckets.  Using 25 pounds of sand in an average bucket equates to 5,200 buckets hauled over the two days.  The greens have been rolled several times since the process occurred, and we anticipate mowing this weekend.

DryJect machine being loaded with sand

Putting surface ready to be dragged then rolled

Divot Party

A group of members and staff recently got together for the first ever Divot Fillin' Party.  1,500 pounds of sand/seed mix was prepared and no one knew how far the group would get.  We started on Orchard #1 and filled every divot in sight on tees and fairways, moving like a well oiled machine through each hole.  In less than 2 hours the group used up all the divot mix and Orchard was complete!  We're looking at dates for future parties on Lakes and Grove, and would like to have all 3 nines done this season.

1,500 pounds of divot mix used

Hard at work on Orchard #1

A special thanks to Joe Beck for coming up with the idea and to Jimmy Brahm for coordinating everything!  We also need to thank the following members for volunteering their time and their continued passion for making the golf course/Club better.

Ralph Affinito

Dave Araneicka

Bob Cornell

Jack Fleury

Christine Flynn

Paul Geary

Ron Joseph

Dennis Meteny

Val Przezdecki

Beth Szymczak

Greens Aerification

The DryJect contractor had a last-minute cancellation and is scheduled to be here on Monday, 10/16 and Tuesday, 10/17.  The plan is to do the practice greens, Orchard and Lakes greens on Monday, then finish Grove greens on Tuesday.  The golf course will be open for regular play on Tuesday using a Lakes/Orchard and Orchard/Lakes rotation.  Please check with the golf shop regarding tee times on Tuesday.


Click here to learn more about the DryJect process

Click here to watch a YouTube video of the process

Grove 3 Fairway

There was approximately 3,500 square feet of bentgrass sod installed at the beginning of the fairway last week.  We knew there would be extra sod after the new tees were recently sodded, and felt this was the best place to use it.  The new sod for Grove 3 tees is scheduled to be installed the week of 10/16, and the remaining sod will be laid in the thin areas on the fairway.  The plan is to sod the worst areas on the fairway, while we incorporate more seed and topdressing sand into the smaller areas.

New bentgrass sod at the beginning of Grove 3 fairway

Understanding Frost Delays

Frost is common this time of year and can even occur when the air temperature is above freezing.  Frost will usually be evident at sunrise, as the air at ground level is warmed it becomes lighter and rises.  Colder, denser air will take the place of the warm air and can be 5-10 degrees cooler, thus creating frozen turf.  Frost usually "burns off" quickly in direct sunlight, but certain areas of the course are heavily shaded and take longer to thaw.  The maintenance staff monitors specific areas throughout the course on cool mornings to determine whether frost is present, and the decision to allow play is based on when those areas will be frost-free.  An easy way to tell if frost is present is by running your hand across the grass.  If the dew wipes away it's safe to walk on the turf.

Click here to watch a short video about frost from the USGA.

October Awareness

All month long you'll see pink flags, sticks and cups throughout the course in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.

Construction Update

The tee renovation is progressing nicely and the contractor is nearing completion of Grove #2 tees.  Sod installation is scheduled for Wednesday, 10/4 and Thursday, 10/5, and will finish the tees on Lakes #6, Orchard #9, Grove #2 and #9.

Work also started on Grove #3 gold tee this weekend to make room for stockpiling soil and sand.  All the tees on #3 are being renovated to some degree, and work will start on the gold tee and move forward.  Tree removal is also necessary on #3 due to their close proximity to the tees.  We found tree roots within the top 3 inches under the teeing surface of the gold tee, which explains why the turf decline was so severe.  Besides competition with the roots, the size of the trees block out much-needed sunlight and airflow, which is why the tees and surrounds are always wet.

Large rocks near the surface of Grove #9 blue tee.

Rocks from under Grove #9 blue tee.  Tough to produce good turf on top of rocks!

Leveling Grove #2 blue tee and moving the irrigation head so it's not on the tee surface.

Grove #2 blue tee ready for sand mix.

Stay Connected

To the right of this post is a box titled "Follow By Email."  Enter your email address then hit submit, and every time a new post is uploaded you will automatically receive the post by email.  It will save you time by not having to check the blog for updates.

Course Update -- Bunkers

Quick Course Fact...There are 157 bunkers on property, which equates to 3.5 acres of sand and 3.75 miles of bunker edge.

It takes a considerable amount of time to properly maintain them all, and this year we've devoted many more resources to that effort.  A landscape company has been coming in once per week for the past 15 weeks to edge, pull weeds, and move sand from low areas back up to the slopes and faces.  A member of the grounds staff has assisted them each week, and their combined time totals 560 man hours thus far.  The greenside bunkers on all three nines have been edged, along with all the fairway bunkers on Orchard.  The crew is almost finished with Lakes fairway bunkers and will turn to Grove to finish out the season.  Work in the greenside bunkers went relatively quick as they only required minimal edging.  The fairway bunkers have been a different story.  Some of the fairway bunkers were so overgrown the crew ended up cutting back 12" to find the native soil edge.  Once all the organic material is removed the crew can start moving sand around.  Going forward, the bunkers only require bi-weekly trimming of the grass surround, pulling weeds as they emerge, and regular raking.

Edging a fairway bunker on Lakes #7

Course Update -- Fairways

Despite all the repair work done to the fairways, the areas damaged by Pythium blight earlier this summer are healing slower than anticipated.  The problem comes from the excessive amount of thatch in the fairways, which retains too much moisture and does not provide the ideal conditions for seed germination.  Going forward, the aerification program started this fall will reduce thatch levels over time and the grass will be healthier.  Please refer to an earlier post about aerification and why it is necessary.  Additionally, we're working with our regional support team to implement the best solution to restore the fairways to optimal playing conditions as quickly as possible.

Construction Update

The contractor is currently re-shaping and leveling the blue and white tees on Orchard 9.  He anticipates having them ready for sod this week.  Next on the list is Grove 2 and 3.  With projects like this we need to have a large number of areas prepped so when the sod crew is here they can install everything in two days.

Aerification Update

Regular core aerification is essential in maintaining healthy turf that can withstand the wear and tear of a long golf season and the extreme weather events that go with it.  For our location, that means pulling a core twice per year, typically early spring and sometime in the fall.  This year, we experimented with a newer process called DryJect that uses high pressure water to inject sand directly into the rootzone.   The process was very successful in that it created firmer greens and the healing time was only a few days compared to a couple weeks.  It worked so well the management team decided to have the service done again this fall, but we needed to combine it with core aerification that removes some of the old sand and thatch.  We originally planned to have the contractor here last Tuesday/Wednesday after Labor Day, but the weather did not cooperate and the service was postponed.  Since the weather wasn't conducive to DryJecting, we went ahead and core aerified the greens using 1/4" mini tines and then lightly topdressed.  The plan was always to core aerify immediately after DryJecting, but we didn't want to wait given the uncertainty of the weather this time of year.  Orchard and Grove greens were completed last Thursday and as of this morning the holes were barely visible.  The advantage of using a smaller tine is the healing time is greatly reduced, but we're still removing a good amount of old sand mix and thatch by creating 72 holes per square foot with our current machine setup.  Lakes greens are being aerified and topdressed today, and will heal quickly with a little rain and warm temps.  We still plan to DryJect the greens this fall and we're working with the contractor to identify some dates that are less disruptive to the membership.  More info to come...

As for fairways and tees, they too require core aerification twice per year and we're starting on that cycle this fall.  Orchard fairways have been completed, and a contractor is aerifying Lakes today and Grove fairways tomorrow.  Fairway aerification is a much bigger task since we have 40 acres between the three courses.  Tees encompass 6 acres and the maintenance staff will aerify those during periods of slow play.

Remember to check with the Golf Shop regarding course status and any maintenance activities scheduled for that day.


Click on the link below for more information about aerification and why it is necessary.

http://www.usga.org/videos/2013/03/27/usga-course-care-video--why-aerate--2257797353001.html